Working While You Study

Unless you are undertaking the Diploma in Economics, the Certificate in Theological Studies or the Certificate in Theology for Ministry the UKBA limits you to 20 hours per week during term-time. For these named courses, the UKBA limits you to 10 hours per week during term-time. However, the University imposes greater work restrictions. You must abide by the University regulations as follows:

There are working restrictions that apply to all graduate students of the University. It is not possible to 'work through' a full-time degree at the University, except as a Research Assistant whose research employment activity matches that of the research degree.

It is a requirement of the University that all full-time postgraduate students have their funding fully in
place before they start their course. Under no circumstances will the need to earn money be accepted as a
valid reason for failing to complete a course or an assignment on time. Students on one-year courses are not
normally allowed to undertake any type of paid work during their period of study, although on a few courses,
permission may be given for students to give undergraduate supervisions. These regulations do not apply to
part-time students.

The University does not allow students to undertake paid work outside the University or a college while they
are studying full-time, and you should not expect to accrue additional income in this way. However,
academic-related work – especially teaching undergraduates – can provide postgraduate students with
valuable transferable skills, and a limited amount of this type of work is encouraged, provided it does not
interfere with your studies. If you are a research student, with the approval of both your supervisor and your
college tutor, you may be able to undertake a small amount of academic work, such as supervising undergraduates,
invigilating examinations, working in a university/college library, or demonstrating in a laboratory. However,
you should not rely on such work to generate essential income for your studies. The University stipulates that
no more than ten hours a week may be spent in such activities; please note that some grant-awarding bodies only
allow a maximum of six hours per week. If you an overseas student, your visa may state that you can work up to
20 hours a week. However, to work more than ten hours a week is a breach of university regulations.

Full-time research students on courses of more than one year's duration may undertake up to 6 hours of work
related to their studies or career progression per week.

Contributing to the teaching of undergraduates through, for example, supervising laboratory sessions and
small-group teaching ('supervision') is a valuable transferable skill. Graduates who teach should receive
appropriate support in developing their teaching skills. All graduate students who wish to teach should
undergo basic instruction. The Graduate Development Programme offers opportunities both through
departments/faculties and centrally.

Exceptionally, up to 10 hours of such work (including preparation time) may be allowed with the agreement
of the supervisor that the work is beneficial to the academic progress of the student. Supervisors may consult
the Student Registry in case of doubt.

Full-time students should not undertake any other work (except for the case of Research Assistants as set
out above). It is not possible for a graduate student to 'work through University' (see Section 11).

Any student who takes other forms of work or exceeds the maximum hours must recognise that to do so may
impair the progress of his or her studies and that he or she has done so against the express advice of the
University.

Supervisors should not ask students to undertake work beyond the limits set out above.

Part-time students are not restricted in the hours they can work, but their admission interview will
explore the extent to which they will be able to manage their work and study and the Supervisor is asked
to keep the balance between these elements under review.

Full-time or part-time candidates who wish to take a break to take up full-time employment during their
research should normally come off the register to do so. Being employed full-time is normally incompatible
with holding full-time student status (except in the case of Research Assistants employed by the University).

Students and supervisors should be aware that Research Councils do not recognise employment, even in the
subject area of the thesis, as good reason for over-running and will not take account of this when calculating
submission rates.